For a few years now, we’ve known we needed more space. But there were so many constraints as to what we needed and where we needed it that often our attempts at finding a new space left us only frustrated. We love our location on the East End of Charleston – especially as there is another wonderful pregnancy center on the West Side of Charleston. We also love that we’re on the bus route and within blocks of the State Capitol Building.

We looked for years and everything was either too expensive or just needed too much work. Then one day, we realized there was a space for rent just two doors down from our current location. It was on the corner, owned by the same landlord, and right next to our baby store. Why had we never seen this before?

Our Board of Directors started looking into it, and although it needed work, it seemed possible. After lots of consideration and planning, construction was started TODAY! We are thrilled and can’t wait to move in!

The space will give us more room to serve our growing clientele and ample storage for our baby boutique. We’re looking at a September move in date, so please stop by sometime soon to see all the exciting changes!

Kids are notorious picky eaters. My mom frequently tells the story about my brother loving fried okra when he was little until the day he found out it was green in the middle and then refused to have anything to do with it. Then there was me who would have eaten bread and cheese for every meal and been happier than a clam.

But as a parent you get worried about your child’s growth and development. Are they getting the nutrients they need? Do I force the fruits and veggies? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, forcing food can lead children to actively dislike foods they may have otherwise liked.

So, how then do you get your child to eat healthy? The AAP suggests a few different strategies:

Offer a variety of fruits and veggies and let them pick.

Include them in the cooking.

Try adding some herbs and spices to some veggies and/or protein.

Arrange the food creatively. Kids love something that looks fun!

Try a disliked food more than once. It can take a toddler’s taste buds 10 times or more to accept a new food!

Never hesitate to talk to your child’s doctor if you’re concerned about his or her diet. These are just a few helpful strategies but nothing to replace the professional opinion of a licensed pediatrician.

Oh the milestones. Ask any mom. They’re fun yet a bit stressful. You wait with anticipation for your baby to roll over, crawl, smile, or laugh, but the big one is walk.

“At what age did your baby take her first steps?” We’ve all heard it. Or the dreaded, “He isn’t walking yet?” Like we’ve done something wrong to contribute to the slower development. BUT babies develop at different rates.

I had a friend whose daughter began walking at 9 months. My daughter didn’t begin until 11 months. Another friend’s son didn’t walk until 17 months. So, what’s normal?

According to BabyCenter.com, most babies will take their first steps between 9 and 12 months and have mastered the skill by 14 or 15 months. However, don’t get worried. Some children don’t begin walking until 16-17 months and are perfectly normal.

Moral of the story? As hard as it is, don’t compare. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Your baby is unique and you love her because of it. Of course ask your pediatrician if you have concerns, but if he’s not concerned you shouldn’t be either!

Father’s Day has come and gone. For some it’s a day to celebrate, others a day of grief, and sometimes there’s a mix of emotions. Social media has also made these holidays harder to avoid.

At Cross Roads we see all types of dads. Sometimes we never even meet them, and other times they’re incredibly eager to learn, grow, and provide for their children. We’ve even witnessed dads come alive after a few visits – going from just dropping their partner off for classes to coming and participating themselves.

This is a real joy. One of my absolute favorite things is seeing a new dad. They come in holding that newborn baby, smiling from ear-to-ear. They’re proud – and they should be. They talk about their hopes and dreams for their little one and how much their babies look like them. Their large hands tenderly wrap around the fragile baby, and the look in their eyes melts your heart. There’s never a doubt when a connection has been formed. Often (as was true in my case) the bond between a baby and his or her father forms before the bond between the baby and his or her mother, despite growing and carrying the baby for 40 weeks.

We love our dads here at Cross Roads. We love seeing them learn and grow. But most of all we love seeing them with their children and hearing them talk about them. It’s just one thing that makes this job so sweet.

Mother’s Day has come and gone, but in my opinion we should celebrate our mothers more than one day a year. Yes, it’s the most rewarding job at times, but it’s also the most thankless job and by far the hardest. The days are long and difficult. It’s not just physically taxing, but it’s also emotionally taxing. There aren’t “days off,” and vacations aren’t really vacations. As my sister-in-law says, “Vacations aren’t vacations after children. They’re just family trips.”

Although the days are long, the years are short. Seeing your child grow and develop is by far one of the most precious things in life. The moment they utter your name, the first time they wrap their little arms around your neck, or when they come running after not seeing you for a while makes it all worth it. There’s just something about the love of your little one that’s unlike anything else.

But how do we love our mothers well? I’ve seen and heard multiple times that most women just want to sleep in and wake up to a clean house (haha!). While this is probably a great plan, you know your mother best. Celebrate them more than just one day a year. And smile. Your mom chose LIFE!

Sex is everywhere. It seems normal – abnormal if you’re not doing it. It’s alluded to on billboards, magazines, and even children’s movies if you pay close enough attention. “Sex sells” they say, and I’d say they’re right.

But, no matter how “normal” our culture tries to make sex, it’s always an act of intimacy – designed by God to join two people together. Emotions always get involved no matter how far you try and distance yourself. Sure, sex in the short term is pleasurable, but there’s no such thing as just “short term sex.” There’s always long term consequences tied to it.

The media tries to convince you it’s your right and your body. And it is. But what they fail to say is that it’s an act of surrender to another, and in the wrong hands it can be detrimental to one’s heart and soul. It’s not an act of empowerment. It’s not something to be demanded.

Here at Cross Roads we want you to know ALL the facts. Not just the short term, but those that linger for years (even decades) later. We’ve been there. We know the heartache. Empower yourself through saving yourself. It’s the most precious gift you’ve been given.

My little girl just turned one! We knew we wanted to celebrate even though we knew she wouldn’t remember the party. As a friend so perfectly put it, we wanted to celebrate that we kept our child alive and lived to tell about it, haha! We decided to keep it small and simple. Looking back, there are a few tips we took from others that worked like a charm.

Plan the party around naps. Typically one-year-olds are still taking a morning and afternoon nap. Make sure you plan your party around your nap schedule. Nothing will ruin a good party like a cranky child! We planned the party for right after her afternoon nap. That way she was well rested and ready to party.

Keep it small. Babies can easily get over stimulated. Lots of people – especially lots of people they don’t know – can really overstimulate a child leaving you with a really cranky birthday girl or boy. We decided just to do family this year.

The shorter the better. Babies don’t have a long attention span, so a party that lasts for hours will most likely end up badly. Keep it short and sweet. Your guests will understand. Ours ended up being about an hour and a half, and honestly that seemed too long!

Choose a familiar location. We chose a park that we frequent so our daughter and her cousins could run wild and play. Home is also a good option.

https://crossroadspcc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/logo.jpg00Lauren Barehttps://crossroadspcc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/logo.jpgLauren Bare2018-04-02 16:33:402018-04-02 16:33:40Planning a First Birthday Party

“I don’t know one child who hasn’t had an ear infection.” I heard a friend say this one day. I agreed with her to a degree, but then I thought my almost one-year-old hadn’t had one. I counted myself lucky – especially since I had countless ear infections as a child. I was secretly hoping she was the exception to the rule, and she’d escape getting one!

Then last week my daughter got a cold. I didn’t think much about it since a runny nose and a cough seem to come and go within cold a flu season. She was much more cranky than normal, and Friday I knew something was really wrong. I called the pediatrician and got her in for a visit. Sure enough it was a DOUBLE ear infection!

Mommy guilt. It kicked in high gear. Poor babies can’t tell you how they’re feeling, and it’s such a guessing game! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the eustachian tube in the ear becomes blocked and fluid starts to accumulate. Then bacteria starts to grow. The only way to detect this is to have a pediatrician detect the inflammation.

Moral of the story? Never think your child is the exception to the rule, and when in doubt call the pediatrician!

Are you a new dad? A dad with younger children? We not only help mothers, but we have an amazing Fatherhood Program just for you! As parents we can never learn enough, and children need present, loving fathers now more than ever.

When asked about our program, fathers have said it helps them realize all they didn’t know – even when they thought they knew it all! Our program includes modules on:

Being a role model

Being a leader

Discipline

Being consistent

Connecting with your children

Taking care of yourself

Relating to your children

Balancing work and family

Being a single father

Helping your partner through birth and preparing for birth

Emotions

Baby Care

Contact us today for more information! We can’t wait to hear from you.

We’re excited to announce that we’ve recently added four new modules to our “Earn While You Learn” curriculum. These include:

Siblings. This module is about everything from how to prepare your older children for the arrival of a new sibling to how to manage the transition after adding a new member of the family.

Emotions of Pregnancy. This module includes what emotions to

expect during pregnancy as well as how to manage these emotions in a healthy manner.

Healthy Relationships. We’ve noticed many of our clients struggle with having and maintaining healthy relationships. This module talks a lot about setting keeping boundaries in relationships.

Life with a Toddler. This is all about the joys and the challenges of the toddler years. It includes everything from normal/abnormal behavior to potty training!

Want to know more about our Earn While You Learn Program? Contact us today at 304-344-4511 or e-mail contactus@crossroadspcc.com. Feel free to stop in and see our on site baby boutique, Sarah’s Promise!